PROJECT OVERSEAS– Costa Rica
A joint endeavor by SDPUS and its members to give professional assistance to teachers in developing countries
*Please note that the application is divided into two sections
A copy of Section A, containing information of a general nature and related to
academic background and professional experience, will be sent to the host
organization overseas. We strongly recommend that at least this part of the
application be typewritten or printed very clearly.
Section B asks for information of a more personal nature and access to it will be
restricted to the SDPUS Selection Committee, your Team Leader and to the Staff
of SDPUS’s International Programs.
The attached application form is to be completed and returned to SDPUS
PLEASE NOTE:
Please see the list of sponsoring organizations and be sure to call or log into
SDPUS’s web site for additional information.
Please read the following before applying:
1. All applicants must:
♦ hold an appropriate teachers’ certificate
♦ have at least three years of verifiable teaching experience
♦ be in excellent health
♦ show evidence of flexibility and mature judgment
2. The travel and living expenses of participants are not covered by SDPUS, but
we can assist in arranging all your needs in Costa Rica.
3. The commitment to Project Overseas is great both in and out of the classrooms.
4. Because of the nature of the Project, participants are not allowed to be
accompanied by friends or family during the orientation program or during the
active program overseas.
5. Participants must be aware that a project may be cancelled at the last minute
due to unforeseen circumstances. SDPUS cannot guarantee placement on another
team.
6. More affordable accommodations can often be implemented by sharing a living
accommodation with other Project Overseas participants.
7. Project Overseas (PO) operates mainly in Costa Rica, and eventually
opportunities will be available elsewhere in Latin America. Participants must be
prepared to be assigned to any location in Costa Rica where there is a SDPUS
Project.
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8. Most Project Overseas assignments are 4-12 weeks long. SDPUS does not
usually know program dates until February each year, after teams are formed, and
it is important to note that some projects do span most of the summer (July &
August) and dates are subject to change.
*Applicants must, therefore, be flexible and available for the entire summer
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PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO SDPUS
Must submit by:
June 1st To be considered for a FALL placement
Nov.1st
To be considered for a SPRING placement
April 1st To be considered for a SUMMER placement
Please note: This application is also available online at www.sdpus.com so that you can save it
and type directly onto the form.
SECTION A
PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT
Name: (First)__________________________________ (Last)_____________________________________________
Male: � Female: �
Name as it appears in passport:____________________________________________________
Birthplace: (optional) _____________________________________________________________
Date of birth: __________________________________________________________________
Home address: ________________________________________________________________
Telephone: _____________________________Fax: ___________________________________
E-Mail:________________________________________________________________________
School or Work Address: _________________________________________________________
Telephone: _____________________________Fax:___________________________________
E-Mail:________________________________________________________________________
Present Position: If retired, state month & year:________________________________________
School or Institution: ____________________________________________________________
Please complete the following:
Date of last day of school at your present institution: ___________________________________
Date on which your school will open in the fall:________________________________________
Latest date by which you must arrive home after the assignment:__________________________
Name of applicant (PRINT):_________________________________________________
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ACADEMIC BACKGROUND (Please list beginning with most recent)
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS PAGE AND DO NOT SEND RESUMÉ/CURRICULUM VITAE
NAME AND LOCATION OF TEACHER TRAINING______________________________________________________
INSTITUTION, UNIVERSITY AND RECENT___________________________________________________________
SUMMER COURSE______________________________________________________________________________
DATES DEGREE/CERTIFICATE RECEIVED:__________________________________________________________
MAJOR AREA OF STUDY: ________________________________________________________________________
TEACHING BACKGROUND (Please list beginning with most recent)
SCHOOL AND LOCATION_________________________________________________________________________
POSITION (e.g., Teacher, Principal, Dept. Head) _______________________________________________________
GRADES TAUGHT_______________________________________________________________________________
SUBJECTS TAUGHT_____________________________________________________________________________
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE (Do not list short-term or summer positions)
JOB TITLE _____________________________________________________________________________________
DATE TEACHING CERTIFICATE WAS GRANTED _____________________________________________________
WHERE APPLICABLE____________________________________________________________________________
LOCATION_____________________________________________________________________________________
LEVEL OF LINGUISTIC ABILITY (please circle appropriate choice for each category)
ENGLISH
Poor
Poor
Fair
Fair
Poor
Poor
Good
Good
Fair
Fair
SPANISH
Excellent
Excellent
Good
Good
← ORAL COMPREHENSION → Poor
Fair
← WRITTEN COMPREHENSION → Poor
Excellent
Excellent
← ORAL EXPRESSION → Poor
← WRITTEN EXPRESSION → Poor
Good
Fair
Fair
Fair
Excellent
Good
Good
Good
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Name of applicant (PRINT):_________________________________________________
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FIRST LANGUAGE: English�
Spanish �
Other (Specify) ________________________
LANGUAGE IN WHICH YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR STUDIES:______________
University Level:
English�
Spanish �
Other (Specify) ________________________
Secondary Level:
English�
Spanish �
Other (Specify) ________________________
LANGUAGE IN WHICH YOU CAN COMFORTABLY TEACH
English: �
Spanish �
SUBJECT PREFERENCES_______________________________________________________
Bearing in mind that you will be teaching unqualified or under-qualified teachers, content and
methodology, what subjects and levels would you feel confident teaching, and in which
language(s)? __________________________________________________________________
*For your information, we typically receive many requests for: Mathematics, English Language
Arts, English as a Foreign Language, Science, Social Studies, Computers, School Administration.
**We also often have requests for: Classroom Management, Action Research, Trade Unionism
(Teacher Welfare), Special Education, Testing, Evaluation and Measurement, Physical
Education and Health Education.
SUBJEC LEVEL:
PRIMARY
ELEMENTARY
SECONDARY
EXPERIENCE IN ORGANIZATIONS
Outline your involvement in your teachers' organization :________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Other Organizations: ___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
a) Have you ever been a participant in SDPUS’s Project Overseas?
Yes: �
No: �
In what country(ies)?_____________________________________Years:__________________
Are you interested in being a Team Leader? Yes: � No: �
b) Have you ever participated in cultural exchange programs designed to assist people?
Yes: � No: �
Overseas (specify countries, dates, and nature of program):______________________________
Dates of program: ______________________________________________________________
Nature of program: _____________________________________________________________
Name of applicant (PRINT):_________________________________________________
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SECTION B
PLEASE RESPOND BRIEFLY:
a) Why do you wish to participate in Project Overseas?_________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
b) Why do you think you are well suited to such an assignment? _________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
c) If chosen, what would you see as your responsibilities as a member of a Project Overseas
team?
_____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
d) In your opinion, what are some of the challenges of working in a developing country? _______
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Name of applicant (PRINT):_________________________________________________
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e) What do you think the general aims and objectives of educational aid in a developing country
should be?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
f) What do you see as the major hurdles facing education in a developing country? ___________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
g) Please describe how you are currently pursuing your own professional development: _______
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Name of applicant (PRINT):_________________________________________________
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RECREATION AND HOBBIES
What are your hobbies and favorite forms of recreation? ________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
HEALTH
How do you appraise your present health? Excellent: �
Good: �
Fair: �
If other than "excellent", please give details __________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Do you have any chronic ailments? Yes: � No: �
Any physical disability? Yes: �
No: �
If yes, please specify ___________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
List any technical aids (cane, wheelchair, etc.), or accessibility requirements (ramps, grab bars in
washrooms, etc. you need):_______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
List any serious illnesses you have had, giving dates:___________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
List any allergies and/or dietary restrictions you have:___________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Name of applicant (PRINT):_________________________________________________
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REFERENCES
Please provide the names and addresses of five persons whom further information may be
obtained by the selection committee.
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY
1. Present Principal or Superintendent: ___________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________
Email: ________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________
* If retired, please submit most recent Principal or Superintendent
2. Executive of Your Teacher Union: _____________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________
Email: ________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________
3. Professional Reference: _____________________________________________________
Job Title: _____________________________________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________
Email: ________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
4. Professional Reference: ______________________________________________________
Job Title: _____________________________________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________
Email: ________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
5. Personal Physician: _________________________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________
Email: ________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
Name of applicant (PRINT):_________________________________________________
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SCHOOL BOARD OR JURISDICTION
Name of Present School Board or Jurisdiction______________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________
Telephone: ______________________________________Fax: _________________________
Acknowledgement
As a project overseas applicant, I understand and accept the following conditions:
1. I understand that every effort will be made to assign successful applicants in
accordance with their skills and experience, but I am also aware that the nature of the
requests from host countries may make this impossible. Yes: �
2. I am willing to accept an assignment to any Province in Costa Rica in which SDPUS
organizes a cooperative project. Yes: �
3. I understand that PO is a collaborative team effort and participants are expected to
share accommodations while on assignment overseas. Yes: �
4. I attest that I have taught for three full years.
Yes: �
5. I acknowledge that I have provided the personal information in this application form
voluntarily to SDPUS for the purpose of applying as a participant in Project Overseas.
Should I be accepted as a participant in Project Overseas, the personal information in this
application form will be kept on file with SDPUS for the sole use of my involvement in
Project Overseas. Yes: �
Date: ________________________
Signature: _______________________________________________________
PLEASE EMAIL COMPLETED APPLICATION IN A WORD ATTACHMENT TO
BOD@WWW.SDPUS.COM
OR
PRINT & COMPLETE THE APPLICATION AND THEN MAIL TO
SDPUS- C/O PETER FIORENTINO
3669 WEST SADDLEBACK ROAD
CANANDAIGUA, NEW YORK 14424
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